Johnson (Pictured, file photo) was awarded “Knockout of the Night”
after flooring Joey
Beltran with a series of uppercuts, while Oliveira captured
“Submission of the Night” for his first-round finish of Eric Wisely.
Dunham and Lentz garnered “Fight of the Night” honors for their
hard-fought two-round scrap.
BR> Johnson, a five-time Strikeforce veteran, sent Beltran a
message early in their heavyweight showdown, punishing “The
Mexicutioner” with a body shot in the bout’s opening moments. He
controlled the action from there, using an effective jab to keep
Beltran on his heels. The 34-year-old finished the fight with
authority -- dazing Beltran with an uppercut followed by a right
hook -- before landing more uppercuts in the clinch to send the
Alliance MMA representative face first to the canvas at the 4:24
mark.

Making his first appearance at 145 pounds, Oliveira quickly went to
work on Wisely, attacking the UFC rookie with crisp leg kicks. When
Wisely attempted a kick of his own, “Charles do Bronx” caught it
and stood over his opponent, searching for an opening. Oliveira
then dropped for a heel hook that looked to have Wisely in trouble,
but the 27-year-old Iowan appeared to escape danger by twisting out
of the move. The Brazilian didn’t relinquish hold of Wisely’s leg,
however, and Oliveira’s persistence paid off as he converted the
position into a modified calf slicer. Wisely asked out of the bout
at 1:43 of the first period.

After a back-and-forth opening frame where Lentz landed several
takedowns and showed aggressive standup, Dunham asserted his will
in round two of their lightweight tilt. After a spirited exchange
between the two men on the feet, Dunham scored a takedown and
battered the Minnesotan with elbows and punches. By the time the
frame expired, Lentz’s left eye was nearly closed due to the
punishment he received. Prior to the third round, a ringside
physician determined that “The Carny” could no longer continue, and
Dunham emerged with the technical knockout triumph.